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EDT, Inc.

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RCX C-Link Series: Remote Camera Link 
Extenders

Overview

EDT’s RCX-series remote Camera Link extenders are compact modules that can be used to extend Camera 
Link data over fiberoptic or coaxial cabling. All components work just as they do with Camera Link cabling.

This guide covers the following extenders: the RCX C-Link, which works with fiberoptic cable; and the RCX 
C-Link Coax2, which works with coaxial cable. Thus, for simplicity, this guide will refer to them as follows:

RCX C-Link

Fiber extender 

RCX C-Link Coax2

Coax extender

Two extenders can link a camera to a standard framegrabber via fiber or coaxial cable; or one extender can 
connect a camera to an EDT FOX framegrabber, which has fiberoptic transceivers built in. 

Specially configured pairs are available for medium or full mode operation (fiber version only).

NOTE

All EDT extenders and framegrabbers mentioned in this guide are for Camera Link. For details on our 
legacy AIA product, RCX LVDS / RS422, see its product page at 

www.edt.com

Care and Cautions

Your EDT extender is built to withstand a variety of extreme conditions, as listed in the specifications on its 
datasheet (see 

Related Resources on page 2

). However, it is nonetheless a high-performance component 

which, for optimal results, should be treated with care, as detailed below.

The extender must be protected from even momentary power spikes over 18 volts.

The connectors – especially the fiberoptic transceivers – must be kept clean and dry. If you suspect the 
presence of moisture or debris in the connectors, you should blast a burst of compressed air: 

— directly into the ports to dislodge any debris that has collected there; and

— away from the electronic components to blow out any moisture that has collected in the air nozzle.

CAUTION

To avoid damaging your eyesight, never look directly into any transceiver.

Summary of Contents for RCX C-Link series

Page 1: ...User s Guide RCX C Link Series Remote Camera Link Extenders for use with Camera Link cameras Doc 008 02368 03d Rev 2011 June 29...

Page 2: ...06 p 503 690 1234 800 435 4320 f 503 690 1243 www edt com EDTTM and Engineering Design TeamTM are trademarks of Engineering Design Team Inc All other trademarks service marks and copyrights are the pr...

Page 3: ...f business profits or information and the like arising out of the use or inability to use the Products even if Seller has been advised of the possibility of such damages Because some jurisdictions do...

Page 4: ...LED Configuration Codes 7 Base Mode 8 Medium or Full Mode 9 Resetting or Changing the Operating Mode 9 Backward Compatibility 10 Status and LED Status Codes 11 Firmware 12 Versions 12 Querying Verifyi...

Page 5: ...version only NOTE All EDT extenders and framegrabbers mentioned in this guide are for Camera Link For details on our legacy AIA product RCX LVDS RS422 see its product page at www edt com Care and Cau...

Page 6: ...Product Documentation EDT Resource Detail Web link Application programming interface HTML and PDF versions www edt com manuals html Installation packages Software firmware www edt com software html S...

Page 7: ...device camera or framegrabber to the extender s MDR26 connector Cable end Attach the correct cable to the extender s cable connectors Figure 2 shows the extender connectors and other features includin...

Page 8: ...vary from line to line and frame to frame With a standard framegrabber For a base mode system with a standard framegrabber you will need two extenders one at the camera end and one at the framegrabbe...

Page 9: ...two MDR26 connectors The primary connector operates the same way as the base mode interface each pixel clock transfers 24 bits of video data from the camera s X channel The primary connector also can...

Page 10: ...Figure 5 Full mode multiple extenders standard framegrabber To set up this system 1 Install your Camera Link framegrabber and software as instructed by its manufacturer 2 Verify extenders are configur...

Page 11: ...links a configuration code indicating the operating mode for which the extender is configured one time and then blinks rapidly as the firmware loads After power on the LED continuously displays a stat...

Page 12: ...lower power dissipation The selection of 16 bit mode is made only at the framegrabber end through configuration code 2 2 or through the directive mode16 1 in a FOX configuration file this information...

Page 13: ...prevent future confusion To reset or change the operating mode configuration code 1 Turn off the power to the extender and disconnect the extender from everything except a power supply NOTE EDT recom...

Page 14: ...t digit then repeat for the second digit For example for a configuration code of 2 1 press the button for two blinks and release then press the button for one blink and release As soon as you enter th...

Page 15: ...uration Codes on page 7 The cable connection is compromised either by incorrect or damaged cabling or by moisture or debris in the extender s cable connectors see Care and Cautions on page 1 Fast blin...

Page 16: ...indicating an unsupported configuration code then you have firmware of revision 11 or later Querying Verifying and Updating For base or medium mode follow the steps below to query verify and update th...

Page 17: ...ons To verify compare the firmware in your EDT installation package against the firmware already loaded on your extender via flash memory run rcxload u 0 v flash rcx file rcx replacing file rcx with t...

Page 18: ...y over a single fiber DualTX and DualRX transceivers In full mode these are used on the secondary Camera Link con nector because it must carry twice as much data as the primary connector Coaxial Cable...

Page 19: ...ull mode secondary connector 1 1 inner shield inner shield inner shield 14 14 inner shield inner shield inner shield 2 25 X0 Y0 Y0 15 12 X0 Y0 Y0 3 24 X1 Y1 Y1 16 11 X1 Y1 Y1 4 23 X2 Y2 Y2 17 10 X2 Y2...

Page 20: ...at is local to either end If you wish to explore these options contact EDT Unlike the DB9 in the female assembly this DB9 has no looped back signals or integrated level conversion Table 7 Pinout Lemo...

Page 21: ...s 1 4 and 6 are wired together and unconnected 7 and 8 also are wired together and 9 also is unconnected these signals are not otherwise used Table 8 Pinout Male DB9 Cable Lemo Pin Color DB9 Pin Stand...

Page 22: ...he tables under Configuration and LED Configuration Codes on page 7 select a configuration code with a frequency range that is included in the frequency generated by the cable assembly Table 10 shows...

Page 23: ...chcraft connectors while the two extenders at the framegrabber end can receive power from the EDT resync cable through a female DB9 connector The resync cable connects to the extenders through two int...

Page 24: ...imension of 0 31 inch is for the standard power connector the optional Lemo connector on the fiber version is approximately 0 35 inch NOTE Connector dimensions are approximate for precise dimensions s...

Page 25: ...ers and instructions Figure 11 EDT extenders with EDT half meter adapter cables Also for devices with SDR mini Camera Link connectors EDT offers a 3M MDR26 female to SDR26 male cable in two lengths 1...

Page 26: ...ly added clarifying details and a fig ure showing the standard Switchcraft vs the optional Lemo power connector 20110523 03b CH PH 18 Under Power Supply expanded the opening verbiage to Each extender...

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